Truss



May 17, 1932- c. M. GooDRlcH 1,859,136

TRUSS Filed Nov. 4, 1950 2 `sheets-sheet 2 fi-f) Patented May 17, 1932 Uitli STATES PATENT orties;

CHAUNCEY MARSH GOODRICH, OF WINDSOR, ONTARIO, CANADA TRUSS Application filed November 4, 1930.v Serial No. 493,400.

possible so that the switches Awill operateA satisfactorily and the operating shaft will not jam or operate with difficulty.

ln the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a switching station constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the truss, showing the camber adjusting means.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line III- III of Figure 2.

Figure l is a. sectional view taken on the line IV-lV of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse section through the truss, taken on the line V-V of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numerals 2 and 3 designatethe columns which may be of any Well known con struction or design and serve to support the truss girder A.

The girder A consists of four rolled metal f flange members land 5, preferably of angleV shape, arranged to form bottom and top chord members and suitably connected by diagonals 6.

The bottom chords 4 are shown divided at their center, as at 7 and connected by a splice piece 8. holes 9 to receive bolts 10 which pass through holes 12 in the chord members 4. The elongated holes 9 permit a limited movement of the sections of the bottom chord members toward or away from each other to thereby adjust the camber of the girder truss A.

Angle brackets 13 are secured to each of the chord sections at opposite sides of the rlhe splice 8 has elongated dividing point 7 and are connected by a bolt ,14 having' nuts 15 on each end adapted t0 be A threaded on or ed the bolt to lengthen or vshorten the chords as desired.

lt will, of course.' be understood that while l have shown the bottom chords as divided and adjustable at only one point, Ido not wish to be limited thereto since two or more of such points may be provided if desired.

Ablurality of switches 16 are mounted on ythe top of the girder A. A common form of lade switch is shown in the drawings for purpose of illustration, and 1t will be understood that any other well known or special form of switch may be substituted in practice.r and the operating mechanism may be varied accordingly. A switch operating shaft 17 extends lengthwise of the girder A and is journaled in bearing brackets 18. A plurality of switch 0plerating arms 19 are keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 18 and are connected to A gear 23 is keyed on one end of the shaft V17 and meshes with a gear 24 on the upper end of a vertical operating shaft 25 which is journaled in a bearing bracket 26V and bearings 27 and28. A gear 29 is keyed on the shaft 25) adjacent its lower end and meshes with a gear 30 carried by a shaft 31 operated by a hand-crank 32. The above arrangement of operating mechanism for the switches 16 is .only illustrative and maybe varied to suit the existing conditions and requirements of the specific installations.

It will be readily appreciated that in long span truss girders a certain amount of sag is inevitable and is generally allowedl for by eo 'I buildingva certain predetermined camber in The adjustable splice in the bottom chords j 4 of the present structure allows for shortening or lengthening of the'bottom chords 4 to adjust the camber of the girder and malntain it level so that the switches 16 and shaft 5 17 can be maintained in accurate alinement.

It will be understood that the camber of the truss will be generally adjusted during erection and assembly of the switches 16 and their operating mechanism so as to prevent 10Vthe truss sagging below the horizontal. If, however, the truss sags below the horizontal, due to its relatively light structure, it can gen*- erally be brought back by screwing up the nuts 15 on the bolt 14, since the pull on the 15 bottom chord parts is delivered through the adjacent diagonals 6 to a point at the center oi the top chord members 5.V In case the truss girder is of lsuch size and weight that it can not be returned to the desired position f5' by the bolt 14 and nuts l5, a suitable prop may be forced under it at or adjacent its center to return the ygi'rder to the desired position, and the nuts lumay thenvbe threaded on the bolt l to hold the truss in position.

25 While I have shown and described a certain vspecific embodiment of my invention, it will b'e understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto Asince various m'odications in the general design and details of structure 3o may be made without departing from the 'scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claim.

Y I claim; Y

A truss having bottom and top chord members secured together byl diagonal bracing, at least two 'of said diagonal bracing members beingv secured, to said top chord member at the center of said chord member and to spaced points on said bottom chord member, said bottom chord member beingr divided to form two parts at a point immediately below the point of connection of said diagonal bracing members with sai-d topl chord member, a

sjpli'cemember bridging and connecting the 'parts of said bottom chord member, means A for afdjustably ysecuring the parts of said bottom chord member and said splice member together, said means including bolts passing 'thinughclose fitting holes in said bottom chord member 'and elongated holes in saidy splice member, lugs on each of the parts of *said bottom chord member and a threaded bolt connecting said lugs and having nuts adapted to be threaded onvand off the bolt to forcethe parts of said chord member to-V ward keach other or permit said parts .to move away from eachother to adjust the eamber of said truss. K

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto setv @3 my hand'.

CHA'UNCEY M. GooDRIoH. 

